Counter-Strike 2 is gearing up to be one of the biggest multiplayer launches in 2023. The title is a long-awaited sequel to the legendary first-person shooter. CS 2 will be the latest entry in the most iconic FPS franchise in gaming, so here’s everything you need to know about the game.
Counter-Strike 2: When will it be released?
Valve has not yet confirmed the launch date for CS 2. However, the official launch trailer revealed that the game will be released in Summer 2023. Valve’s HQ is in Washington, US, which means that the game should launch by September 23, 2023. The closed beta for Counter-Strike 2 started on March 22, giving the company enough time to playtest every active duty map except one.
Inferno is the only map that has yet to be beta-tested, but it is expected to drop by the end of this month. This follows Valve’s two-week cycle of releasing CS 2 maps. After the beta has run its course, Valve should’ve finished testing and fixing any bugs in the new game and roll out Counter-Strike 2 by the second half of September.
Counter-Strike 2: Source 2 and Visual Overhaul
CS 2 is a true sequel of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, with the game finally shifting to Source 2, the video game engine developed by Valve. CSGO ran on the nearly 20-year-old Source 1 engine. This shift helped bring various visual improvements to the game, which isn’t limited to simple graphical updates but also includes lighting improvements, shadows, and much more. The overall enemy visibility has also improved across the new maps. Similarly, even the skins get updated textures to match the new graphics.
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Counter-Strike 2: VAC Live, AI-Trained Anti-Cheat
One of the biggest additions to CS 2 is its brand-new anti-cheat system. Back when CSGO went free-to-play, Valve used cheater-infested lobbies to train its AI. This means that Counter-Strike 2 will be capable of detecting cheaters without using an intrusive anti-cheat system like Riot’s Vanguard (used for Valorant).
